SiRT looking for owners of stolen bikes after Halifax police officer charged

A Specialized Crave Carbon bike is pictured. (Submitted: Serious Incident Response Team)

The Serious Incident Response Team (SiRT) is looking for help in finding the owners of five stolen bikes so they can be returned.

The public plea comes a day after SiRT laid charges against a Halifax Regional Police officer for allegedly selling stolen property, including bicycles and other items.

SiRT believes the following bikes were stolen in the Halifax Regional Municipality within the last year:

SiRT is asking the owners of the bikes, or anyone with information that could help them find the owners, to email the unit at [e-mail]. SiRT says it will verify proof of purchase or ownership before a bike is claimed.

Police officer charged

SiRT laid the following charges against Const. Fallon Sarah Clarke on Wednesday following an investigation that started on Sept. 4:

• breach of trust
• false pretence
• obstruction
• possession of property obtained by crime with a value over $5,000

No other details about the allegations have been released.

Clarke is due to appear in Halifax provincial court on Nov. 27.

Suspended with pay

Halifax Regional Police Chief Don MacLean said Wednesday that Clarke has been suspended with pay since the investigation began and will remain suspended pending the outcome of the court case.

“Whether at work or on our own time, there is an expectation that police officers are leaders in the community, particularly when it comes to upholding the law,” said MacLean in a statement.

“As Chief, I am disappointed. I expect better and the public deserves better.”

According to a post on the Halifax Regional Police Facebook page, Clarke graduated from the Halifax Regional Police Science Program in 2019.

SiRT is responsible for investigating all serious incidents involving police in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.

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